Cleaning device for pipe lines



Oct; 1943' L. BRACKEEN 2,332,984

CLEANING DEVICE FOR PIPE LINES Filed July 24, 1942 0 w We a 2/ /24 A? la I INVENTOR. L/ayd firdckeen ATTNEY.

Patented on. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING DEVICE FOR PIPE mas Lloyd Brackeen, Claflin, Kans. Application July 24, 1942, Serial No. 452,167

3 Claims. (Cl. 15--104.06)

This invention relates to improvements in a cleaning device for pipe lines and refers more particularly to a device propelled by fluid pressure which, by means of fluid jets in the head of the device, removes deposited material which accumulates and restrict the flow through pipe lines. simultaneously propel the cleaner forward through the-line and by jetting of the fluid in front of the device mechanically erode and at the same time dissolve the obstructing material while flushing the dissolved and suspended substance through the pipe ahead of the advancing device.

While the cleaning device may be used to remove deposits of a variety of materials, it is particularly adapted for the elimination of accumulated wax from the interior oLreflnery pipes and crude oil lines.

Where oils containing wax are transported through pipe lines there are almost invariably, due to changes in temperature. conditions or for other reasons, accumulations of waxy deposits and sludge built up on the interior of pipes so that the capacity of the pipes in time is appreciably diminished and reduced in some cases to the .extent that the pipes cannot be economically used.

The present invention difiers primarily from the art by incorporating into a single cleaning device facilities for propelling the device by means of a liquid under pressure introduced into The function of the pressure fluid is to the head of the cleaner to dissolve away and mechanically erode deposited wax and obstructing material more closely adjacent to the pipe surface than that removed by the axial lets.

In the drawing which is to be read in conjunction with the specification and wherein like numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Fig. l is a sectional view of a pipe line showing the pipe cleaner in operation with the brake attached at the rear end of the cleaner,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2- -2 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the I arrows,

Fig. 3 is a front view showing the positioning of the jets in the head of the cleaner,

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig, 5 is a front view of a modified type of head construction, and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 where the braking device similar to that shown in Fig. 1 is mounted bethe pipe behind the cleaner, a braking attachment for preventing too rapid speed under high pressure and a jetting arrangement on the head forfldissolving and breaking down the deposited accumulations. Where mechanical cutters are used before device of this character, the deposited waxy material will rapidly accumulate in a. solid plug dimcult and in most cases impossible to remove by liquid jets. Unless the jetting of the fluid which is to dissolve the wax is directed in such fashion as to maintain centrally in the pipe a clear unobstructed passageway for the discharge of dissolved material, waxy accumulations will pack into a hard, solid mass .and prevent forward movement of the cleaner and removal of the deposits. By converging axially positioned jets at a point a short distance in front of the cleaning device, there is maintained at all times such open passageway through the deposited material which is dissolved away by the jetted liquid. At the same time, a portion of the fluid under pressure is jetted radially from tween the flexible sealing disks or directly on the cleaning device instead of being drawn behind the cleaning device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, within the pipe line I0 is shown an accumulation or deposit of foreign material such as wax, shown at H. To clean the line of this deposit, a cleaning device which forms the subject of this invention, is used. This device consists of a spool-shaped support I2 comprising a head lZa, a rear disk I21), and a tail extension |2c which is hollow and is perforated as shown at 12d. Immediately behind the head In and disk l2b are flexible sealing disks or plungers I3 preferably made of tough rubber and adapted to produce a pressuretight seal against the interior of the pipe.

The spool-shaped support [2 may be disassembled for cleaning or repair by unscrewing the central portion from the head and the rear 1end portion from the central intermediate porion. a

As shown in Fig. 2, the device has an axial duct l2e extending from the. rear perforated portion I20 to the head so that liquid supplied behind the device in the pipe I0 enters the perforations l2d, flows through duct He and is discharged from the head through a plurality of jets. An axially positioned master jet I4 and jets l5 are so positioned upon the front of the head that liquid discharged from these jets converges a short distance in front of the head as shown in Fig. l. A third row of 2 Jets is project the pressure liquid substantially radially from the head, as-shown in Fig. 1, to dissolve away and erode material more closely adjacent to the inner surface of the pipe than the material dissolved and eroded by the axial jets.

Adiagonal duct communicating with the space between the disks l2a and lib of the spool support and discharging from an aperture I27 on the outer' periphery of the head relieves liquid pressure and prevents accumulation of objectionable materials between the flexible plungers ii. To hold the flexible plunger or sealing disk I! in position immediately behind the head, there is tension in or to a bale t8 affixed to the rear extention by means of a pin is, a braking device consisting of a spool-shaped support having front and rear disks 20a and 20b. A front bale 20c attachedto disk 20a of the brake spool is engaged by the bale member i8 of the cleaner. The spool 20 is hollow through a portion of its length as shown at 20d in Fig. 2. This axial duct 20d has radial ducts 20c discharging into the intermediate portion of the spool, permitting the flow of pressure fluid beneath and around brake shoes 2| and 22, thereby preventing accumulation and deposit of materials between the disks of the spool which might prevent proper functioning of brake shoes. These brake shoes surround the small portion of the brake spool between disks 20a and 20b and frictionally contact the interior of the pipe. They are held in place by a. flexible member 23 which is positioned in grooves formed centrally of the shoes, the flexible member shown being a circular spring. Also, between the brake shoes halves 2i and 22 are four compression springs 24 tending to separate the shoes and acting against the flexible member or holding spring 23. The strength of the compression springs and th extent to which they overcome the holding spring 23 govern the amount of frictional contact between the shoes and the inside of the pipe.

Two holding pins 25 extending parallel to the axis of the spool-shaped brake support and rearwardly of the front disk 20a enter apertures 2 la and 22a in the front end of the brake shoes and restrict their expansion or outward movement to the extent that the front shoes will not jam against and be stopped by small obstructions extending into the interior of the pipe, as produced by connections, couplings or ridges caused by V welded joints.

In the modified type of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tapered head has been replaced by a head 26 which has curved shaped prongs or and bent toward the axis of the cleaner.v These prongs serve both as cutters and as guides for the head as it proceeds through the pipe. They are not, however, extended far enough ahead of the jets to cut away the deposits and; produce an impenetrable plug which the jets could not dissolve and erode. In this modified type or head there is but a single master jet ll,

' cutters 21 extending-forwardly of the head and w assaoac axially positioned, and one set of lets it posi tioned to project streams of fluid forwardly and outwardly against the internal wall of the pipe, thus performing a function comparable to that explained inconnection with the jet IS in the head In. shown in Figs 1 and 2. Also, in the modified construction shown in'Flgs. 5 and 6, the brake shoes 2| and 22 are mounted on the intermediate portion or the spool support of the cleaner instead of upon a separate brake spool as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Restricting pins 28 extending rearwardly from the flange l2], which supports the front flexible plunger, restrict the expansion of the forward portion of'the shoes in the same manner as pins 25 on the front flange oi the brake spool 20. A spring 23 holds the shoes on the spool support and compression springs 24 give the frictional contact between the shoes and the interior or the pipe; .Other than the shape of head, the-positioning or the jets and the manner of mounting the brak shoes directly on the cleaning device, the modified construction shown in Figs-5 and 6 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

There is provided in both types of construction a radial duct 29 communicating between duct He and the'in'termediate portion of the spool support to prevent accumulation and deposit of material beneath and around the shoes of the brake when they are mounted directly on the cleaner. It serves the same use as the radial ducts 20c on the brake spool 20 shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, the device, either with the brake attached to the rear end of the cleaner or with the brake shoes mounted directly on the cleaning device as shown in Fig. 6, is inserted into the pipe to be cleaned, and fluid under pressure is introduced to the pipe behind both the device and the brake This liquid under pressure enters the axial duct of the brake, circulates around the brake shoes and is free to pass over the front disk 20a of the brake spool. Pressure is thus imposed by the liquid against the flexible sealing disk l3, causing the device to move forwardly through the pipe. Simultaneously, this fluid under pressure enters the axial duct l 2e through the screen formed by the plurality of perforations l2d in the rear extension i 20, preventing ingress of material likely to clog and obstruct the jets in the head. This fluid passes out of the head through the central master jet" l4, substantially axial jets I5 and radial jets IS. The liquid from the master jet and axial jets converges at a point a short distance in front of the head l2a, dissolving away the accumulated wax and mechanically eroding a hole through the accumulated wax or enlarging the passageway already there. Liquid from the radial jets i6 erodes and dissolves the waxy ac- While the description of the device and its use has been to a great extent limited to the removal of wax accumulations in oil pipe lines, it will be appreciated that the cleaner is as well adapted for removal of depositsof different characters from pipes or tubes where solid or semi-solid materials accumulate and reduce the amount of liquid flow permitted and thus lower'the efficiency of the transporting medium.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for cleaning wax accumulations from pipe lines comprising a spool-shaped support member, flexible sealing plungers adiacent the enlarged end portions of the spool support and adapted to form a pressure-tight seal with the interior surface of the pipe to advance the spool support through the pipe on introduction of fluid under pressure behind the spool, an axial duct through the spool support,- a tapered head at the front of the spool, jet openings in the head communicating with the axial, duct certain of the openings arranged to project a converging stream of liquid axially into the pipe ahead of the device and other of the openings arranged to project streams of liquid outwardly and forwardly against the internal wall of the pipe and a brake mounted between the enlarged portions of the spool support, said brake havingfriction elements and means to force the elements against the inside walls of the pipe with sufllcient force to retard the progress through the pipe, whereby a greater hydraulic force is built up behind the plungers and conducted to the nozzles.

2. A device for cleaning wax accumulations from pipe lines comprising a spool-shaped support member, flexible sealing plungers adjacent the enlarged end portions of the spoolysupport and adapted to form a pressure-tight seal with the interior surface of the pipe to advance the spool support through the pipe on introduction of fluid under pressure behind the spool, an axial duct through the spool support, a tapered head at the front of the spool, jet openings in the head communicating with the axial duct arranged to project fluid into the pipe in front of the head in streams substantially axial of the pipe and separate streams outwardly and forwardly into the pipe, and a drag brake drawn behind the spool support, said brake having friction elements and means to force the elements against the inside walls of the pipe with suflicient force to retard the progress through the pipe, whereby a greater hydraulic force is built up behind the plungers and conducted to the nozzles.

3. A device for cleaning wax accumulations from pipelines comprising a tubular support, flexible sealing plungers adjacent the ends of the support adapted to form a pressure-tight seal with the internal surface of the pipe to advance the support through the pipe on introduction of fluid under pressure behind the support, a head at the front of the support, jet openings in the head communicating with the interior of the support arranged to project fluid introduced into the pipe behind the support in front of the head and against the wax accumulations in the pipe, and a drag brake attached to the support, said brake having friction elements and means to force the elements against the inside walls of the pipe with sumcient force to retard the progress through the pipe, whereby a greater hydraulic force is built up behind the plungers and conducted to the nozzles.

LLOYD BRACKEEN. 

